Apparatus for regulating the humidity and temperature of air.



W. H. CARRIER.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE 0F AIR.

' APPLICATION FILED IuLY 30.1913.

19233. ,I Patented; July 3, 191'?.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

W. H, CARRIER. APPARATUS FOB REGTULATING THE HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE 0F ATR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30.1913 l Ll 7G50 Patented July 3, 1917.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Al-.vTlmlTvTlmlTvTlTvTlTvTlmlm IIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllll) f N llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll W. H. CARRIER. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE HUMIDITY ANDITEMPERATURE 0F AIR.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 30 |9I3- 11,233. 9?@5. Patented July 3, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

sns natuur @union WILLIS H. CARRIER, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO FORGE COM- PANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR vR12'.GrUIl'aATINGr THE HUMIDITY ANI) TEMPERATURE 0F Am.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 191W.,

Original application filed May 31, 1911, Serial No. 630,318. Divided and this application :filed July 30, 1913. Serial No. 782,036.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, WILLIS l'l. CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Regulating the Humidity and Temperature of Air, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in particular to apparatus for regulating the humidity and temperature of air in one or more of the rooms of abuilding, whereby a deiinite percentage of humidity can be maintained in the room-or inclosure, notwithstanding Huctuations in the room temperature, by regulating the room temperature with reference to the saturation temperature of humidified air which is supplied to the room, so ,as to maintain a predetermined difference between these temperatures depending upon the desired relative humidity in the room.

This application is a division of my application filed May 31, 1911, Serial No 630,318, for a method for regulating the humidity and temperature of air.

p controlled, preferably by regulating, the

volume of the saturated air admitted to the vroom. AThis control is obtained through a l*differential thermostat which has two elements affected respectively by the room temperature and the saturation temperature at the humidifier, and controls volume dampers by which the quantity of saturated air supplied to the room is increased or decreased, so as to maintain the necessary di'erence 40 between the room temperature and the saturation temperature at the humidifier to give the desired relative humidity.

Preferably the air is saturated at a desired fixed temperature, which is automatically maintained, whenever the outside wet bulb' temperature is below said saturation ternperature, but when the outside wet bulb temperatu're is above said desired mimimum saturation temperature the air is simply saturated at the lowest temperature possible without refrigeration, which is the 'true wet bulb temperature of the outside air. The

air thusv Saturated is introduced/into theJ or slightly above its saturation temperature it becomes a source of cooling and the -relative humidity is increased by increasing the supply of air to reduce the temperature of the room, thus bringing it nearer to its dew point. Conversely, by decreasing the supply of air, the heat existing in the room, due to machinery, sunlight, or other sources, raises the temperature of the room, thus decreasing its relative humidity. On the contrary, when the previously saturated air supplied to the room is heated above the room temperature, the relative humidity is decreased by increasing'the supply of air, which increases the difference between the dew pointl and the room temperature, and is increased by reducing the supply of air. permits an accurate regulation of the roomA conditions through the control of its temperature with respect to the dew point.

Suitable means are preferably provided whereby t e action of thesdilerential thermostat is reversed whenever the temperature of the saturated air is raised above 'the room temperature, thus permitting 'the same differential thermostat to control the temperature and relative vhumidity in the room, whether the saturated air admitted is below or above the room temperature. v ln this system the 'control at the humidifier forv saturating the air at a denite temperature is independent of the conditions in the room, but the temperature of the room is maintained at the required number of degrees above the saturation temperature to give the desired relative humidity, which can be done by regulating the volume of warm or cold conditioned air introduced into the room, in the manner described, or by the automatic variation of other source of heat or cold in the room.

ln the accompanying drawings consisting of three sheets:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, partly diagrammatic, of an apparatus embodying.

the invention.

This obviously 45 saturation temperature.

yFigZ is an elevation of the differential thermostat and associated parts. e l Fig. 3 is a'diagram of a modified apparatus. 5 Like referencel characters refer to like f parts in the several figures.

Referring irst to Fig. l, A, A represent the rooms of a building to which saturated air is supplied from a humidifier B through suitable ducts or passagesc, 0, e2 by an air A propelling fan or device C. The humidifier may be of any suitable sort adapted to produce perfect saturation of the air, for instance, it comprises a spray chamber through '15 Which the air is drawn by the fan and which is filled With a finely divided Ispray or mist of Water by a group of suitable spray nozzles b, and is provided With an eliminator b adapted to remove the free moisture from the saturated air. The spray Water is conveniently supplied'to the spray nozzles by a pump D Which takes the Water from a collecting Well in the bottom of `the spray chamber, so that thesame Water is circulated andA used re- '25 peatedly. W

Y E represents a thermostat Which regulates the temperature infthe humidifier so asto saturate the air at a predetermined temperature. In the apparatus illustrated the Water 3a is heated by a steam injector F and the thermostat E is locatedin the humidiier and v l lcontrols the steam supply valve f ofV the injector by 'regulating the pressure in a lpipe f by v Which compressed-air for actuating the steam supply valve f is conveyed thereto v from a supply tank f2. The thermostat E is Iadjusted to maintain the desired saturation temperature and operates automatically through the medium of the compressed air to 40Y control the action of ,the injector F to vary -the temperature ofthe, spray Water asref quired for this purpose. The thermostat opraises the air is regulated by a steam supply lvalve g under the control of athermostat as hereinafter explained.

.H, H represent dampers'controlling thel ducts 0 c2 Which supply the saturated air lto the rooms. The damper H for the roomA is actuated by a pressure-operated diaphragm 'orV motor-lz. under the control of a 4differential thermostatic regulator I and ther "damper H for the other room is similarly e5' operated by a diaphragm or motor 71, under described regulation, the devicesshown and described herein. being', selected merely as 'illustrative of the invention. f'

In the apparatus shovvnin the drawings the thermostatic regulator for each room has an element i, containing expansible iiuid, 30 which is located in the room so as to be vinfluenced by the temperature thereofand an element i', also containinfg eXpansible Huid, Which-is located in the humidifier Where it is iniiuenc'ed by the temperature of the satug5 rated air after it passesfthe eliminator. A. single elementi in the humidifier, common, to.-all of the' thermostats, is suiicient and only one is used. The elements z' and z" are connected by pipes 2 and?? respectively to 90 tvvo diaphragms or motors c and 7c Which act in opposition to each other on a regulat.- ing leverK at opposite sides of the Jrulcrum thereof. The expansion and pressure of the fluid in the elements z' and i." vary With 95' changes in the temperaturesaffecting the-elel ments and the regulating lever K is held stationary or moved in one directionor the other depending upon the relative uid .pressures in the diaphragme kk. The llever K carries valves la? ist at its opposite ends which control blee'der or escape ports Z and Z in two branches m m of a pipeM connecting the operating motor h for the damper H with a supplypipe m2 leading from the compressed 'air tank ft; I 4

Nrepresents a` reversing valve which in the positionv ,shown 'in Fig. 2 closes the branch pipe m so-that the compressed air for operating the damper. H. then-'passes' through lthe branch pipe m and 4is controlled by the lever K coperatingwith theescape f port 1. When the valve N is shiftedvto its other position', it closes the branch pipe m so that then the air for operatingthe damper :One of the elements of the diiferential'i I p thermostat, preferably the element that isflo ilo . H passes through the other. branhpipe mr e air heater G, for. turning on ami," f

i located in the room, is adapted to be distended and collapsed for changing its capacity. By adjusting this element z' by a screw P the thermostat can be set to maintain different desired relative humidities, which are indicated by a suitably calibrated scale with which a pointer p attached to the screw cooperates.

The operation of the thermostatic regulating device is as follows, assuming the reversmg valve N to be in the position shown in `ig. 2, the heater G shut olf, so that the humidified air is delivered to the room at orslightly above its saturation temperature, and the thermal element i adjusted to maintain the required dierence between the temperature of the room and the saturationtemperature of the humiditied air to give the desired relative humidity. So long as this diiference is maintained the position of the regulating lever K and the air damper H will remain unchanged, regardless whether or not the temperatures of the room and of the humidlied air fluctuate. 1f the difference in the temperatures is increased, which results in reducing the relative humidity, the consequent relatively greater pressure in the diaphragm ,7c will cause the lever K to open the escape port Z more or less. This will reduce the air pressure in the pipe M and operating diaphragm of the damper 11, thereby causing the damper to open and admit more humidiied air ,to the room. Since the air has a cooling effect this results in increasing the relative humidity. An increase in the relative humidity above that for which the device is set will produce an opposite movement of the regulating lever and air damper H so as to admit crease the relative humidity. Whenever the room temperature falls below the predetermined minimum degree for which the thermostat 0 is set', the thermostat will operate to turn on the heater G and shift the reversing valve N so that the regulating lever K will then coperate with the escape port Z', instead of the port Z, in controlling the air damper H. As the escape orts Z and Z' are located at opposite sides ofp the fulcrum of the lever, the same action of the regulating device, which before caused. a reduction in the supply of humidiied air to the room, will now cause an increase in the supply of heated humidied air, and, therefore, produce the opposite effect on the relative humidity. When the room temperature is restored to the desired predetermined degree the thermostat O will again reverse the action of the regulator and shut o the heater G. Thus the one differential thermostatic regulator operates to properly regulate the temperature and relative humidity, whether the air admitted is below or above the room temperature.

The regulating device for the room A', or

less air and de-` -and open than two rooms are equipped with the regulating means, operates to control the air admission damper H' and is connected to thermostatic elements 11 and i', to the damper actuating diaphragm Zz.' and to the compressed air supply in the same manner kas the regulator I described, the corresponding parts Ofthe two regulating devices being designated by the same reference characters. The reversing v alve N of the regulator I is, however, connected to and operated by the thermostat O, insteadof by a separate thermostat located in the room A.

Fig. 3 illustrates an application of the apparatus in which the humidiied air is not heated and the regulation of the room temperature with reference to the saturation v temperature is effected by controlling aV In this arrangement the differential ther-` mostatic regulator I2 has elements i and i arranged and operating diaphragms lo lc just as before, but the regulating lever K2 only controls one escape port Z2 in a com- 1pressed air supply pipe m3. This pipe has a ranch m4 leading to the operating diaphragm Zz, for the damper H and a branch m5 leading to the actuating diaphragm of the steam valve Q of a radiator or heater g, located in the room. The branch pipes m4 and m5 are provided with pressure operated valves R and R', respectively, which are controlled by a thermostat S located in the room.

In this apparatus the differential regu-l. lator I2 controls the quantity of saturate l air admitted to the room, and also controls the heater g to regulate the room temperature. Assuming that the valve Q is open to admit steam to the heater q and that the damper H is normally open, if a predetermined maximum room temperature is reached the therostat S will operate to admit compressed air to the diaphragms of the valves R and R', which will operate the `latter to cut o' the compressed air from the heater valve Q, permitting this valve to close communication between the damper actuating diaphragm z. and the regulator I2. The differential thermostat I2 will then'control the humidity and room temperature by regulating the volume of the saturated air admitted to the room in the manner explained in connection 'with the first apparatus. When the room temperature falls to a predetermined degree, the thermostat S will act to reverse the position of the valves R and R', thereby cutting off the compressed air from the damper diaphragm ZL and admitting it to the diaphragm of the heater valve Q. The heater is thus turned on and will raise the temperature of the room until the required temperature is f restored, when the thermostat S will oper- I `ate as before to shift the control to the air damper H.

I claim as my invention: 1. The combination of means for saturatl ing air with moisture, means for supplying and reverses the action of said differentialthermostaticmeans whenever the heater is' the humidiied air to an inclosure, and thermostatically controlled means which. auto-V matically regulatethe temperature in -said inclosure, so as to maintain a substantially constant difference between the temperature in the inclosure and said saturation temperature, substantially as set forth.v

2. The combinationv of means for saturating air .with moisture, means for supplying the humidiied air to an inclosure, and thermostatic means controlled by the temperature in said inclosure and the saturation temperature of said humidifed air and means controlled thereby, which automatically regulate the temperature in said inclosure, so as to maintain a substantially constant difference between the temperature in the inclosure and said saturation temperature, substantially as set forth.

4 3. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying said humidied air and controls said damperactuating means to maintain a substantially 'constant diiference between the .temperature 1n said inclosure and the saturation temperature of vsaid humidifled air, a heater yadapted to raise the temperature of the humidified air above that of the air in the inclosure, and a thermostatic device which reverses the action of said differential thermostat whenever the heater is set in operation, substantially as set forth.

, 6. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying maintain a substantially constant difference the humidied vair, to an inclosure, means for regulating the quantity of said humidiied air vadmitted to the inclosure, and thermostatic means for controlling said regulating'means comprislng thermal elements rev spectively influenced by the temperature'in said inclosure and the saturation temperature of said humidied air, and a regulatingdevice nwhose `action is dependent upon" tlie relative action of said thermal elements, sub-l stantially as set forth. l

4. The combination of means for saturating, air with moisture, means for-supplying the .humidied air to anl inclosure, means lfor regulatin'gthe quantity of said humdified air admitted to the inclosure, differential thermostatic means controlled jointly by the the humidied air to an inclosure, and thermostatic means controlled by the temperature in said inclosure. and thc saturation' temperature` of said humiditied air and means controlled thereby, which automatically regulate the quantity of said humidiiied air admitted to the inclosure and thereby control the temperature in the inclosure to a predetermined difference between the tem-l perature in the inclosure and the. saturation temperature of said humidiiied air, substantially as set forth.

. 8. The combination 'of means for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying the humidited air to an inclosure, and means responsive to the relation between the temtemperature in said inclosure and the sat'ura-I tion temperature of said humidied air which automatically control said regulating means, a heater for the humidii'ied air adapted to raise the temperature of the same above that of the air in the inclosure, and

a thermostat iniiuenced by the temperature in the inclosure which controls said heater set in` operation, substantially as set forth.

. 5. The combination of means for saturating air with moistlre, means for supplying the humidied air to an inclosure, a damper, means for actuating said damper to regulate ,the quantity of said humidied air admitted to the inclosure, a diiierentialthermostatwhich has thermal elementsiniuenced respectively by the temperature in said inclosure andthe saturation temperature of perature ofsaid inclosure and the saturation temperature of said humidified air for reguating the quantity of said humidied air admitted to the inclosure, 'so as to maintain a predetermined diference between said temperat'uresfsubstantially as set forth.

9. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture, ,means i for supplying the humidiied air to an inclosure, and means forregulating the quantity of saidhumidifled air admitted to-the inclosure and thereby maintaining a predetermined difference between the temperature in the inclosure and the saturation temperature of said humidi-` fied air, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture,- `means for supplying thehumidified air to an inclosure, means for regulating the quantityof said hu1nidi Y fied air admitted-t0 the'inclosure,`a heater `for the humidied'air, and means responsive tovchianges of temperature in .the inclosure whenthe temperature of said humidied, air

"125. for altering the action of said heater and reversmg the action of said regulatin means perature of the inclosure,

bears a predetermined relation to the temsubstantially as set forth.

11. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture, means for `supplying the humidiiied air to an inclosure, thermoresponsive means jointly controlled by the temperature in the inelosure and the saturation temperature of the humidified air, and

means Controlled thereby for normally regulating the quantity of the humidiied air admitted to the inclosure to maintain. a predetermined ditference between the temperature in the inC-losure and the saturation temperature ofthe humidified air, heating means adapted to raise the temperature in the inclosure, and means responsive to changes of temperature in the inclosure which operate at a predetermined temperature to alter the action of said heating means A and to change the normal action of said regulating means;

12. The combination of means for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying the humidified air to an inolosure, thermoresponsive elements influenced respectively by the temperature in the inelosure and the saturation temperature of the humidiied air. and means controlled thereby for normally regulating the quantit1 of the humidified air admitted to the inclosure to maintain a predetermined difference between the temperature in the inclosure and the saturation temperaturev of the humidiied air, heating means adapted to raise the temperature in the inclosure, a thermostat aected by the temperature in the inclosure, and means controlled thereby which operate at a predetermined temperature to cause the heating means to supply heat to the nclosure and to change the normal action of said regulating means.

13. The combination of a humidifier for saturating air with moisture, means tor supplying the himidilied air to an inelosure,

- means for regulating the quantity of said humidified air admitted to the inolosure Jfor maintaining a. predetermined relation between the temperature in the inelosure and the saturation temperature of said humidied air, a heater for the humidified air, and means which throw said heater into and out of actionand reverse the action of said regulating means when the temperature of the inclosure falls below or rises above a predetermined temperature, substantially as set forth. l

14. The combination of a humidifier for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying the humidiied air to an inclosure, means for regulating the temperature in the outside wet bulb temperature is below said saturation temperature, and means for maintaining a predetermined difference between the temperature in said inclosure and said saturation temperature in the humidiier, substantially as set forth.

15. The Combination of a humidifier for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying the humidied air to an inclosure, means for regulating the temperature in the humidifier to maintain a substantially iX'ed saturation temperature therein when the outside wet bulb temperature is below said saturation temperature, and means for regulating the temperature in said inelosure to maintain a predetermined diierence between said temperature and said saturation temperature in the humidifier, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of a humidifier for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying the humidied air to an inclosure, means for regulating the temperature in the humidifier to maintain a substantially Xed saturation temperature therein when the outside wet bulb temperature is below said saturation temperature, and means Jfor regulating the quantity of said humidified air admitted to the inclosure to maintain apredetermined difference between the temperature in the inclosure and said saturation temperature in t-he humidifier, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a humidifier for saturating air with moisture, means for supplying l the humidiied air to an inclosure, means for regulating the temperature in the"humidilier to maintain a substantially fixed saturation temperature therein when the outside wet bulb temperature is below said saturation temperature, means controlled by the temperature in the inclosure and said saturation temperature v of said humidified air `admitted to the inclosure, la heater for 'the humidified air l adapted to raise the temperature of the same above that of the air in the inclosure, and means responsive to changes in the temperature in the inclosure which controls said heater and reverse the action of said regulating means when ,the heater is set in action, substantially as set -forth.

Witness my 1913.

WILLIS H. CARRIER. Witnesses:

H. C. RICE, CARLOS CELERIAN.

hand, this 26th day of July,l 

